According to international nuclear inspectors, a Russian scientist helped the Iranians with technical know-how and also helped them conduct complex experiments on ways of detonating a nuclear weapon. The fact that this information was revealed excitedly on the New York Times has more political reasons  than any real danger from either the Russian scientist or the Iranian nuclear hounds.

The U.S. has been trying to create the image of an impending calamity due to Russian aggressive behaviors when the real reason why Russians are growing increasingly aggressive is because they have their own fears. The Iranians may or may not pose a threat to the world, but a bigger threat to the world lies in the form of American foreign policies and propaganda such as the one about the Russian scientist. What appalls me is that a venerable newspaper like the New York Times is also not immune to prejudice and, directly or indirectly participates in the dissemination of American propaganda.

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Sharon Stone has been the daughter of controversy ever since she crossed or didn’t cross her legs in that notorious movie a couple of decades ago, which we all know. The smoking blonde has always managed to gain publicity whether negative or positive. This time however, she has gained a lot of negative publicity thanks to her bad mothering skills, which apparently are as much in mess as her. Californian officials have criticized and also rejected her request to change her child’s custody arrangements.

They have blamed her for overreacting to her son Roan’s medical issues. The court was especially infuriated with Stone’s suggestion that her son must be treated with botox as his feet were smelly. Now it has also come to notice that Bronstein will have complete custody over the boy and Stone may just have to worry endlessly if he would be taken care of by the jubilant father properly. The crux of the matter is not the custody of the child or Stone concern for her son’s health but the fact that celebrities usually end up over reacting to every tiny incident no matter what.

Probably, the entire attention and media glare showered and sometime forced upon them make them notice even small changes and worry about that endlessly. Probably the celebrities must be left alone and allowed to live a life in privacy. And the ones that like to be in the media glare are best avoided.

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Via: IMDB

If you had been wondering from where all the heroin of the world comes, it must not be too difficult to guess. It’s from the most troubled nation on earth, Afghanistan. The country depends literally on the money that comes from the sale of homegrown opium and poppy and also the derivatives like heroin and morphine. These narcotics make way to Western Europe through the neighboring Tajikistan.

Just 13 hours ago, many afghan smugglers were killed in a shootout in Tajikistan when they were caught red handed smuggling heroin into Tajikistan’s borders. These drugs after reaching France, Germany and elsewhere, are sold at exorbitant prices. What I fear is that the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan has actually encouraged the Afghan opium farmers to grow more as lawlessness has increased many folds after the Americans have entered.

Only through proper negotiations with the U.N. and afghan government can the drug route and trade be blocked. I wonder how things will go in the near future. Though listening to the news of the smugglers being shot dead isn’t a very pleasant one, it may just have the right thing to do, for the Tajik forces, whose land is being used as a transit for drug delivery to Europe.

Via: AfghanConflictMonitor

Amar Chitra Katha, a brand loved and treasured by readers for over 41 years recently evolved into a new web 2.0 avatar that goes by the name of www.amarchitrakatha.com. It was launched by Uncle Pai who has turned a handsome 80! ACK Media is projecting the website as a hub for everything related to the rich Indian culture of story-telling. The site has various innovative features that have generated a lot of interest. Only thing to be seen is if the ACK web page is able to present a consistent show with a strong supply of new ideas important for its growth.

If I were asked to rate the site, I’d give it 6.5 on 10 which is a neat score to start with if you ask me. The most interesting section I found was ‘Story of the Week’, where one can read inspiring stories that are updated once every week. A cool concept that will appeal to both children and adults for who does not like to read a new story, however, I would have liked it more if the section was titled ‘Story of the day’ instead! Then again if you can spare Rs40 for an online comic, you can read instantly available online titles by Amar Chitra Katha, that too in multiple languages.

‘Create ACK stories and art’ is another section that appealed to me. Here one can submit stories or illustrations online that may be incorporated in the forthcoming ACK comics. If not that, at least one can see their submitted work on the gallery page. ‘The Culture Beat’ section lists events and happenings on the cultural front in six leading cities of India. This has been done in collaboration with the event listing site Ask Laila. Another big sub section in the website would be ‘ACK pedia’, which is a vibrant encyclopedia on Indian Culture and people.

Though the company is making big claims about it, in all honesty they would have a tough time competing with giants like Wikipedia. But as the saying goes, let’s wait and watch. As of now they have not announced any date of ACK pedia’s inclusion.

The look of www.amarchitrakatha.com is interesting but I do feel that it has the potential to be much better. The think tank at ACK will have to be on their toes updating and adding new features if they wish to reach the same fame as they did in the past.

If there is anything that intrigues me the most, it has to be the way celebrities’ personal lives are handled by the media. Take for example Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson’s relationship and the coverage that media is providing. It really doesn’t matter if the two held hands or kissed in public. In fact, they might just be doing it for publicity and having the last laugh, while we read about their antics hungrily. The attention that celebrities and their antics get is quite just the reason why they behave in that manner!

Though it may be harmless and helps a lot of people make some money writing about them, it makes one if one must draw a limit. If we choose to ignore the celebrities, they really might behave in a way we wouldn’t associate celebrities with.

Nevertheless, a person’s privacy must be respected too and when things get too personal, one must know to stop. That would help us avoid a lot of embarrassing situations, especially if the stories that writers build turn out to be false and inaccurate.

Via DanasDirt

It’s scary to even think of the mindset behind protests like the VHP chakka jam that took over the nation yesterday. Apparently, it was a support agitation for the brothers in J&K angry over the Amarnath row. We know what happened there. And it wasn’t fair. But why spread the virus of hatred emanating from the political situation in J&K to the rest of India. Former CM of J&K, Farooq Abdullah expressed his “fear of communal hatred” that is generating from this issue across the country.
But I haven’t come to the most frightening aspect. An agitator in Delhi claimed on national television that he and his peers realise the inconvenience and hardships the common man has to face due to the protests but they are for the larger good (which he claimed was to awaken the Hindu brotherhood). “Sometimes, you have to go through difficult times to be enlightened,” he shared without batting an eyelid. Ram’s family would disagree. The 70-year-old heart patient died in Ambala yesterday when he could not reach the hospital in time due to the roads blockage by the VHP.
Is this the kind of enlightenment that religious fanaticism is leading to?
Via hindu

China sure will be the talk of the global town all this year. First, it was the anti-protestors stance then the earthquake and now the Olympics. Seems like they are trying a little too hard with the historical sporting event, maybe with the intention to make the world forget the demerits that the country has been laced with over time.
Let’s take a quick look at some of the absurd steps that China has taken to make the 2009 Olympics a ‘grand memory’.
1.    The fireworks ceremony held at a jam-packed National Stadium on August 8 was not all that it really looked like. The much touted incredible event was a mere illusion. After a controversy broke out over the issue, the game organisers admitted having used a series of illusions that even included a pre-taped footprint shaped fireworks segment.
2.    The venue managers were given instructions to use volunteer cheerleaders to fill empty seats in the stadium. A consequence of which was that the athletes’ families were unable to obtain the tickets for some events.
3.    But the most insensitive one of them all was when a seven-year-old girl was replaced because officials felt that her face was not suitable for the opening ceremony. An older girl was asked to lip-synch the Ode to the Motherland instead, which was recorded in the voice of the youngster.
4.     And didn’t we hear a few days ago that the Chinese authorities have asked girls with plump legs to wear black stocking.
What do I say about the facade that is being presented to the world? I wonder what exactly China is trying to prove here.
via ibnlive

The war of the political ads grows more intense with US presidential elections just three months away. We all saw how Republican John McCain used Paris Hilton and Britney Spears without their permission in a campaign ad that targeted opponent and Democrat Barack Obama by equating him with the two babes. While Britney chose to ignore the matter, Paris certainly wasn’t happy being dragged into the mudslinging. So she retaliated with another ad. Well, I’ve never been a Paris Hilton fan but yeah, I do like the cheek she has shown in this attempt.
The ad opens with a voice over declaring that John McCain (the male voice doesn’t take the name, but it’s clear who is being talked about) is the oldest celeb in the world. Then Paris thanks “the old guy with wrinkly hair” for considering her an able candidate for American presidency. And she also agrees that she is not old and is ready to lead. But she does maintain a diplomatic stance on the energy issue by suggesting a hybrid between Obama and McCain’s ideas. That is smooth. And guess what, the ad ends with a classic Paris Hilton…”Oh, you wouldn’t mind if I paint the White House pink. I think it will be hot.”
Via huffingtonpost

After actor Morgan Freeman met with a serious car accident, the grapevine is abuzz with fears of a curse trailing The Dark Knight. Freeman portrays Lucius Fox in the film. The shock was too much for the film buffs to bear, especially after the untimely death of Heath Ledger, who immortalised the Joker in the latest Batman film, in January this year. Experts say it was an accidental prescription overdose that killed Ledger who suffered from chronic insomnia because he was haunted by his work in the film. In fact, Ledger had even admitted in interviews that he had tapped into some very disturbing elements of his psyche to play such an intense role. Eyebrows rose even further when the lead star of The Dark Knight, Christian Bale, who is a very private star, was troubled by an old unresolved family feud taking over the media. His mother and sister made a private altercation public and even filed assault charges.
Many believe that Warner Brothers, who have been infamously trying to profit off the tragedy of Heath Ledger’s demise, is getting its due. Is it really a series of unfortunate events?

Via gosslip

Hotel heiress Paris Hilton and pop star Britney Spears are pissed off. Recently, John McCain featured the two controversial babes in a political ad that attacks Barack Obama without their knowledge and consent. Britney’s rep said that she won’t give importance to such a petty thing and has bigger things to worry about than who runs for president. C’mon Britney there are things far more important than loving puppies! As for Paris, she has not seen the ad yet as she is touring with Benji Madden and isn’t watching television. But she is aware of the ad and is certainly not happy about it. Now, isn’t that interesting for Paris’ parents are strong supporters of McCain so much so that they have even contributed to this presidential campaign but it turns out she is not declaring publicly who she is standing by for the elections. 

That was about the varying opinion in the Hilton household but coming back to McCain; well he has stooped too low with this ad campaign. He has defined a new low, even lower than mudslinging. Imagine equating Obama to Paris and Britney. Indeed, the attempt is very below the belt. I hope the citizens of the world view this thing with open eyes.

Via thesuperficial